Treating arthritis with turmeric

Arthritis- Definition, and types:

Arthritis is a condition which occurs due to inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are many different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods. Two of the most common types seen today are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The symptoms of arthritis usually develop over time, but they may also appear suddenly. Arthritis is most commonly seen in adults, but it can also develop in children, teens, and younger adults. Arthritis is more common in women than men and particularly in people who are overweight.

Symptoms:

Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and inflammation are the most common symptoms of arthritis. Some people may experience redness of the skin around the joint. Many people with arthritis notice their symptoms become worse in the morning.

In the case of RA, you may feel tired or experience a loss of appetite due to the inflammation the immune system’s activity causes. You may also become anemic — meaning your red blood cell count decreases — or have a slight fever. Severe RA can cause joint deformity if left untreated.

Arthritis and Turmeric:

Curcumin is the yellow pigment which is isolated from the rhizomes of the ‘Haridra’ herb (Curcuma longa). The herb is commonly called Turmeric in English.

Curcumin is the main biologically active compound in Turmeric powder. The percentage of Curcumin in the chemical composition of Turmeric is nearly 5 percent.

In Ayurveda, the medicinal value of Turmeric/Curcumin has been widely known for centuries. As a result of its anti-inflammatory properties, in particular, turmeric has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines since ancient times. The Curcumin compound in turmeric is very beneficial in fighting excessive inflammation and relieving joint pains.

The therapeutic potential of Curcumin has specifically been highlighted in recent researches which shows that Curcumin can be extremely useful in suppressing the excessive inflammation which causes the breaking down of a healthy tissue inside a joint. Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in your joints. It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue cause some forms of arthritis.Specifically, in the case of disorders like Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, turmeric has been proven to retain the cartilage.Turmeric is very efficient in reducing the following symptoms.

Swelling in joints
Muscle ache
Fatigue
Stiffness of joints
Inability to move/use the limb properly
Loss of flexibility of limbs and other affected body parts.

Benefits of using turmeric for treating Arthritis.

Some of the benefits of Curcumin/Turmeric in managing Arthritis and joints pains have been listed below:

Curcumin/Turmeric can reduce inflammation because of its anti-inflammatory properties
It is a proven antioxidant
It can target a range of arthritic and associated disorders.
The use of Curcumin/Turmeric is very effective in autoimmune conditions
It is known to possess anti-arthritic activity
The progression of Arthritis can be prevented with the help of Curcumin/Turmeric
It has bone-protective properties
It alleviates Arthritis by interacting with genes
Complications of Arthritis can be controlled with the help of Curcumin/Turmeric
It provides skin-protective benefits in Psoriatic Arthritis
The side effects of anti-arthritic drugs can be reduced with the help of Turmeric
Turmeric is better than painkillers and other drugs used for Arthritis treatment
Pain in Arthritis can be reduced by applying turmeric topically.

Various Ayurvedic treatments are prevalent today for treating arthritis. For more details read our previous blog Senior health challenges and its treatments.